to speak better which wounded my Soul hath not bereav'd you Signor Marc-Antonio of the memory of her whom not long since you was pleas'd to stile your Glory and your Heaven upon Earth you may call to mind Leonora and the Promise and Oath you gave her and confirm'd with a writing subscrib'd with your own Hand and if you have not forgot the Quality of her Parents the Integrity of her Honour and Obligations she has laid upon you by her readiness to comply with your Desires you would easily know altho I am in a Habit different from what I usually wear and in which you have lately seen me that I am Leonora who doubting or rather fearing least some new accident might take from me that to which I have so just a Title immediately upon knowledge that you were gone from your House not valuing any inconveniences or difficulties resolv'd to follow you in this disguise and to search all the World over till I had found you and you ought not to wonder at it if ever you felt the force of true Love or the fury and rage of a deceiv'd and neglected Woman In this search I have endur'd many troubles which now I esteem pleasant because I see you again but that pleasure is imbitter'd by finding you in this Condition if it shall please God to call you to a better Life if you before your departure will do what becomes you and me and what you are oblig'd to do I shall esteem my self the most contented and happy Woman in the World And I promise you that after your Death I will lead such a Life that it shall not be long before I follow you Therefore I pray you for the Love of God to whom all my Desires and Intentions are directed and by what you owe to your Quality and to me to whom you are more oblig'd than to any Person in the World that now and in this place you would accept of me for your lawful Wife and not tarry till you are forc'd to it by Law Here ended Leonora and all those in the Chamber having attended to her with great silence kept it still expecting Marc-Antonios answer which was to this purpose I do not deny Madam that I know you your Voice and your Face will not permit it neither do I deny the Obligations I have to you nor that your Honesty is unblemish'd and you Family Noble and of great worth neither do I esteem you less that you are come to search me in a Habit so different from which you use to wear I admire you for it and shall as long as I live And since my ill Fortune has reduc'd me to this Condition and I am as you said near my Death in this time I ought to declare the Truth and I will tell you one which tho at present it may not be pleasant to you it may be another Day I confess fair Leonora I have lov'd you and was belov'd by you I farther acknowledge I gave you a Promise in writing and subscrib'd with my Hand and all this rather to please you than my self for many Days before I had given my Soul to one of the same place nam'd Theodosia whom I believe you know Daughter of Parents not less illustrious than yours and if I gave you a Note subscrib'd with my Hand to her I gave the Hand it self confirming it with such Deeds and Testimonies that greater could not be I am so far engag'd that I can marry no other Woman in the World The Love which I had to you was only to pass away the time and I had from you some superficial Kindnesses which did you no hurt then nor can now From Theodosia I had the Fruits which she could give me and I desire under the Obligation to be her Husband as I own my self now to be and if I left you both in the same time you in doubt and her in fear she had lost her Honour it must be attributed to the sickleness and inconstancy of Youth not considering what I had done but hurried on by other thoughts I imagin'd I might without any scruple go into Italy to see which I had a great desire and spend there a few of my youthful Years after which I design'd to return and enquire what was become of you and of Theodosia my lawful and true Wife But the just Heaven has permitted this Accident to fall upon me without doubt being displeas'd at my Infidelity and that I might confess this Truth and this my Error and pay in this Life what I owe and that you should remain undeceiv'd and free to dispose of your self as you please And when Theodosia shall know I am dead she may likewise know from you and the rest of the by standers that dying I fulfill'd the Promise which I made her in my Life But in the little time which I have to live if I can do you any service Signora Leonora I pray you freely command me for I will do any thing for you except being your Husband which I cannot possibly be Whilst Marc-Antonio spoke these words he lean'd his Head upon his Hand and having ended them his Hand fell away and he fainted Then Don Rafael run to him and closely embrac'd him saying Courage dear Sir here is your Friend and your Brother as you have pleas'd to declare him Do you not know Don Rafael your Companion and who will be a true Witness of your Will and of the Favour and Honour you have done him in accepting Theodosia for your Wife Marc-Antonio recover'd his Senses and immediately knew Don Rafael whom he embrac'd and kiss'd saying Signor and dear Brother now I may say that the great Content I perceive in seeing you must fore-run some great Misfortune but nevertheless I shall not esteem it so let what can arrive comparing it with this Felicity I will yet make you more happy replied Don Rafael and present unto you your Wife and looking for Theodosia found her weeping and dubious betwixt the two extreams of Grief and Joy for what she saw and heard Her Brother took her by the Hand and she let herself be easily led where she had a mind to Marc Antonio who knew her and embrac'd her and with her the other two fell a weeping most bitterly All that were in the Room stood amaz'd at so strange an Accident and gaz'd upon one another without speaking a wâ—rd expecting what the end of these things would be But the unfortunate Leonora who had seen what pass'd betwixt Marc-Antonio and him whom she took to be Don Rafaels Brother inclos'd in his Arms whom she always believ'd would have been her Husband finding her designs disappointed and her hopes vanish'd stole privatly out of the Room not being taken notice of by the Company who were all attentive upon the wounded Person kissing and embracing the Page and went into the Street in great despair with intention to go far enouf off and run about the World or
Recovery than she would have done by her Death This notwithstanding Ferdinando came to visit her constantly and at last he supplicated the Queen that he might have her home to his Fathers house saying He did not esteem her so much for the Beauty of her Body as of her Soul which she retained still Ferdinando said the Queen carry her to your house and esteem her as a most precious Jewel in a Case of low value God knows my heart I would have return'd her in the same condition she was delivered me but since that is now impossible you must arm your self with Patience I hope the Punishment which I shall inflict upon the Author of this mischief will make you some satisfaction for the Loss and Displeasure you have received In fine Izabella and her Parents were consigned into Ferdinandos hands who carried them to his Fathers house The Queen added to her former Presents a rich Apparel and many other considerable Gifts as a Mark of her Favour Izabella continued two months in that Deformity without any sign of Recovering her former Beauty after that time the rough Skin began to peel off and her Countenance was a little clearer But Ferdinandos Parents accounting it impossible she should ever be again what she was before resolved without their Sons knowledge to bring on again the Treaty with the Scotch Lady not doubting but that the present Beauty of his new Mistress would make him forget the deformed unfortunate Izabella whom they resolved to send into Spain together with her Father and Mother giving them so much Money and Provision as was more than necessary for such a Voyage Within six weeks Ferdinandos new Mistress arrived at London he knowing nothing of it and was invited to lodge at Captain Manlys house Ferdinando fearing this sudden accident might cause Izabellas Death or at least retard her Recovery to prevent this he went to her Bed-side and in the presence of his Parents spoke thus to her My dear heart Izabella my Parents not being sufficiently inform'd of the infinite Love I bore you have brought into the House a Scotch Gentlewoman with whom before I knew you they had agreed to marry me thinking as I suppose that the present Beauty of this Lady will efface my Love to you From the beginning my Love was not of that sort which designs only to satisfie its sensual Appetite if the Beauty of your Body conquered my Senses your infinite Vertues enslaved my Soul so that if when you were beautiful I lov'd you now you are far from being so I adore you and to confirm this give me I pray you your hand which she did and then he continued his Discourse in this manner By that Faith in which my Parents have educated me I say by the Roman Catholic Faith which I believe and profess by the True God who sees and hears me I promise thee Izabella to be thy Husband and from this moment am so if you consent to exalt me to so great Felicity At these solemn Protestations Izabella was strangely surprized and his Parents astonished and confounded she could not tell what to do or say she only kist his Hands and with a weak Voice interrupted with Sighs she answered that she accepted him for her Husband and gave her self to him for his Slave Then did Ferdinando kiss that homely and deformed Face which he never durst presume to do whilst it was beautiful Izabellas Parents did solemnize this Feast with Tears of Joy Ferdinando told them what way he would take and if in the mean time his Parents would send them all three into Spain they should make no difficulty of going that they should expect him within two years at Cales or Sivil if he came not in that time they might conclude that some great Impediment or Death had retarded him Izabella replied she would expect him not only two years but all her Life Then Ferdinando told his Parents that he could by no means either promise or marry the Scotch Lady before he had made a Journey to Rome and visited the Reliques and Shrines of that holy City he founded the necessity of his Voyage upon such Reasons that his Parents and those of Christiana for so was his Scotch Mistress called being Catholics believed all he said and were forced to consent to what they could not hinder and Christiana was content to remain in her Father-in-laws house the space of one year hoping in that time Ferdinando might return This being agreed upon Captain Manly declared his resolution to send Izabella and her Parents to their own Country if he could obtain the Queens permission alledging that her native Air might perfect the Recovery of her Health which now sensibly began to return Ferdinando not to discover his Intentions answered coldly that he might do as he pleased and few hours after Captain Manly went to the Queen to ask her Majestys leave to marry his Son to Christiana and send back Izabella with her Parents the Queen granted his Petition and the same day without asking the opinion of the Judges or forming any Process against the Countess of Lundy she condemned her to pay ten Thousand Nobles to Izabella for the loss of her Beauty and the danger she put her in of losing her Life besides this she turned her out of her place and forbad her the Court for ever she also banished the Earl of Lundy for six Years in four days time the Countess paid her Fine and the Earl was prepared to go into Exile The Queen paid the ten Thousand Nobles to a Merchant in London who had very considerable Dealings in France and Italy and by his Correspondents there in Spain and took a Bill for the payment of the Value to Izabellas Father in Sevil or Cales or in what other part of Spain he should reside The Merchant replied He would draw a Bill upon a Correspondent of his at Sevil and order him to write to Paris and get a Bill thence that it might appear to be done in France and not in England because there was then no Commerce betwixt England and Spain and that it should be sufficient for them to carry Letters of Advice without specifying the place to which he would put such Marks and Counter-signs that his Correspondent should not fail to pay it upon sight This satisfi'd the Queen then she sent for a Master of a Flemish Ship to whom she recommended Izabella and her Parents charging him to land them in what part of Spain they should desire and to take care they wanted nothing The Master being very willing to please the Queen answered He took it for a great Honour to serve her Majesty and that he would land them in Lisbon Cales or Sevil or what other Port they pleased Then her Majesty sent to Captain Manly commanding him not to take any thing from Izabella which she had given her Next day Izabella and her Parents took their leave of the Queen who received them with more
than ordinary Kindness and Respect besides the Bill of Exchange which she put into Izabellas hands she made them Presents of Money and Provisions for their Voyage Izabella returned her Majesty Thanks in so judicious and discreet Words that her Majesty resolved to continue her Favour to her and to seek occasions of doing her more good Izabella took her leave also of the Court-Ladies who now wished heartily she would stay amongst them her Beauty being gone their Envy was dead also The Queen embraced them all three recommending them to Gods Protection and the Care of the Master of the Ship desiring Izabella to send her a Letter as soon as she should arrive in Spain That very Evening they embarqu'd not without Tears of Captain Manly and his Wife and all the Family by whom Izabella was very much respected and beloved Ferdinando would not be present at the parting but went that day with some Friends a hunting the better to conceal his Thoughts The Regales which Madam Manly gave Izabella were many the Embraces infinite the Tears in abundance and the Prayers that she would write to her numberless The Thanks of Izabella and her Parents were not inferior to these Courtesies and tho they left them in Tears yet they were well satisfied That Evening the Vessel put to Sea with a prosperous gale and touched at France to get the necessary Attestation and within less than a Month they reached Cales and there landed Izabellas Parents were known by most of the City and were received with great Joy which was made the greater when they understood that they had found their Daughter in whom now there appeared great hopes that she would recover her former Beauty They congratulated them also for their deliverance from the Turks and English for they had been informed of this by the Slaves which Ferdinando set free They staid something more than a Month at Cales to recover the Fatigue of their Voyage Afterwards they went to Sevil to get the Money due upon their Bill the Merchant said he knew the Hand but could not safely pay it till he had received Letters of Advice which he expected daily Izabellas Parents hired a Palace over against Santa Paula in which Nunnery they had a Niece to whom they desired to be near she was remarkable for having the sweetest Voice and being the best skill'd in singing of them all but especially because Izabella had told Ferdinando He should enquire for her of that Nun. 'T was fourty days before the Letter of Advise came two days after the Merchant sent to Izabellas Parents and paid the Value of Ten Thousand Nobles with this Money and what her Jewels were sold for her Father set up again and traded very considerably to the great admiration of those who knew what Losses he had susteined In few Months Izabella recovered her Beauty and in two Years successful Trading her Father was as good a Man as before the Sack of Cales and Izabella bore away the Bell from all the Beauties of Sevil being called by all the fair SPANISH-ENGLISH LADY Izabella and her Parents wrote to the Queen of England giving her Majesty Advice of their Arrival and thanking her in a most humble and submissive manner for the many Favours they had received from her Royal Bounty She wrote also to Captain Manly and his Wife calling them Father and Mother They had no Answer from the Queen to the other Letters they had which imported that the day after they departed their Son began his Journey adding many kind Expressions of their Love to which they returned as courteous Answers Immediately Izabella imagined that Ferdinando had left England to find her out with this hope she lived the most contented Person in the World and took care to behave her self so that at his Arrival he should hear the Report of her Virtues before he knew where she dwelt She never went out of doors but to the Monastery and that seldom never confess'd any where else every Friday in Lent and in the holy Week she went to the most holy Station of the Cross she never walked to the River or to the Triana nor to the Feast in the Field of Tablada nor to the Gate of Xeres upon S. Sebastians Day whether so many People resort that they are in apperrance numberless In a word she went to no Ball or public meeting but staid at home retired and virtuously employing her time in expectation of Ferdinandos Arrival This Demeanour procured her many Admirers every day some passed on Horseback before her Window others serenaded her but she never shewed her self many Bawds attempted her but in vain she stood like a Rock beaten by the Winds and Waves but not moved Now one and an half of the two Years were expired and she began to be in great trouble sometimes she imagined Ferdinando was come and made Excuses for his so long delay and that she approved of them and pardoned him Whilst she was in this confusion of Thoughts there comes a Letter from Captain Manlys Wife dated at London Fifty days before in these words Dear Daughter You cannot but remember my Sons Valet de Chambre who waited upon him in his Voyage as I informed you in my last and that they left London the day after you embarqued 'T is a Year and four Months since we heard from him yesterday his Servant returned with the sad News that the Earl of Lundy had treacherously murderd him You may easily imagin with what Sorrow his Father and I and his Spouse received these Tidings Prithee my Dear pray to God for his Soul who hath merited that pious Office by the Love thou knowest he had for thee Pray to God also to give us Patience and a happy Death and we will supplicate him to give thee and thy Parents a long and prosperous Life Izabella knew the Hand and doubted not of the truth of the Contents she knew his Servant was no Lyar and would not forge this News and that Ferdinandos Mother had no reason to invent it she concluded therefore that Ferdinando was dead After she had read the Letter without shedding Tears or shewing any Signs of Grief with a constant Countenance and a quiet Heart in appearance she rose from her Chair and retired to her Oratory then kneeling before a Crucifix she made a Solemn Vow to take on her the Habit and strict profession of a Nun her Parents with great Discretion conceal'd their Grief that they might comfort Izabella who as if she had disgested and overcome hers by that Holy and Christian Resolution was more able to comfort them than they her Having told them her Intent they advised her not to put it in Execution before the end of two Years for she was engaged to expect Ferdinando so long She was obedient to their Counsel and spent the six Months and a half which were wanting to compleat the two Years in Prayers and Religious Exercises as if she were already a
out of her Bosom a little Cross kiss'd it many times and Crossing herself as if she had seen a Spirit or some Apparition out of another World Ricardo taking notice of this fear and guesing at the cause of it spoke thus to her I am very sorry oh most beautiful Leonisa that the News Mahomet told you concerning my death was not true for then I should have been out of doubt whether that rigour and disdain you always used towards me did last still Fear not Madam and come down and if you will vouchsafe to do that which you never yet did come near me and touch me I am no Spirit I am Ricarde who desires no other fortune than what you please he shall have Here Leonisa put her finger upon her lips which Ricardo understood to be a sign that either he should not speak or at least softlier This encouraged him to draw so nigh to her that he could hear these words Speak more softly Mario for I understand you are now so call'd and meddle with no other discourse but what I shall put you upon I give you this advice for if we should be overheard it may hinder us from ever meeting again I believe Alima our Mistress stands listening she is in Love with you and hath employ'd me to be her procuress if you will correspond with her let it be with your Body not with your Mind and if you will not be in earnest fain at least to love her I pray you by that which the desires of a Woman discovered in confidence can merit I could never imagine oh Leonisa reply'd Ricardo that it should be impossible for me to obey you in any thing but what you command me does undeceive me Is ones will so light that it may be transported whether we please Can it become a Man of Honour to dissemble in a matter of so much importance If it is your opinion that such things ought to be command them for you are Mistress of my will which if you had ever known you would not employ me in such an affair Nevertheless because you shall not say that I denyed to obey your first command and because I shall obtain by this the happiness of seeing you I am content to comply with yours and Alimas desires Do you then fain what answers you please for me I promise to make them good And in recompence for what I do now for your sake I pray you tell me how you escap'd out of the hands of the Pyrates and came into the Jews It will require much time to recount all my misfortunes answered Leonisa yet notwithstanding I will satisfie you in part Know then that the day after we separated Isuffos Vessel was driven back by contrary winds to the Isle of Pantalarea where ours do what we could to preserve her struck upon the Rocks My Patron seeing his destruction certain with great hast emptied two Barrels and tied them together and bound me upon them and with an undaunted courage threw himself into the Sea and drew me after him I fell in deprived of my Senses and recovered them not till I found my self in the hands of two Turks who held me with my mouth downwards to make me cast up the great quantity of water which I had drunk I opened my Eyes with confusion and astonishment especially perceiving Isuffo dead by my side his Head was broken to pieces as they told me against the Stones as the Waves threw him on shoar and the Turks drew me to Land half drownd only twelve Persons of that Galley were sav'd We stay'd eight days in that Island during which time the Turks used me with as much respect as if I had been their Sister They lay hid in a Cave fearing least some Christians should come out of the Fort of that Island and make them Slaves sustaining themselves with wet Biscuit which the Sea cast up and which they gathered in the Night and brought into the Galley It pleased fortune for my greater misery that the Fortress had no Captain for he dyed a few days before and there were left in it none but private Souldiers This we knew by a Boy whom the Turks had taken going to the Sea shore to gather shells Eight days after there came upon that Coast a Moorish Vessel which they call Carmosalles They saw her and went out of the Cave and made such signs that those who were therein them to be Turks These told them their misfortunes and the Moors took them into their Vessel in which was a Jew a rich Merchant to whom all the Freight of that Ship or at least the greater part of it belonged and they were the best Commodities which are usually brought from Barbary to the Levant In the same Vessel the Turks went to Tripoly and in that Voyage they sold me to the Jew for two thousand Doubloons an extraordinary price but the Love he bore to me made him so liberal After the Vessel had landed the Turks at Tripoly it follow'd its Voyage and the Jew began impudently to tempt me I shew'd him such a Countenance as his wicked desires merited so that dispairing to obtain his will he resolv'd to sell me upon the first occasion which would profer it self And knowing that the two Bassas Ali and Assan were in this Island and that he might as well sell his Merchandizes there as in Chio he came hither with intention to sell me to one of the Bassas and for that purpose he cloathed me as you see that they might have a greater Appetite to buy me I understand that the Cady has bought me for the Grand Signior which puts me into an extream trouble Here I heard the report of your feign'd Death and I tell you if you believe me that I was very much concern'd for it and I rather envi'd than piti'd you not that I wish'd you ill for altho' I am not in love yet I am not ungrateful but because you had finish'd the Tragedy of your Life You say well Leonisa replied Ricardo if Death had rob'd me of the gusto of seeing you again for I esteem more the instant of Glory which I enjoy in seeing you than any other Felicity except what is Eternal The Affection of my Patron the Cady is to you the same that Alimas is to me he has chosen me to be Interpreter of his Thoughts and I have taken it upon me not to please him but to make use of this occasion to speak to you Now you see Leonisa to what pass our Disgraces have brought both of us for you to be a Baud and an Instrument of procuring that which you know 't is impossible for me to grant and that I should be employ'd to desire that of you which is so far from my desire that rather than you should comply with it I would loose my Life which now is dear to me because I enjoy the happiness of seeing you I know not Ricardo replied Leonisa what to say nor
first least the suddain and unforeseen Accident should disturb you To which words she replied I told you before Sir and now I repeat it to you I can neither will or refuse any thing but what you please to have me do I have no share in those Children but the pain of bringing them into the World you are my Lord and theirs dispose of your own as you think fit and ask not my Consent for the same moment I put my Feet into your House as I put off my Raggs so I did my Will and Affections and put on yours therefore in all things whatever you will I will also If I could fore-know your Will I would desire the same and execute it before you should declare it to me but since I cannot do that tell what your pleasure is I 'll willingly perform it say 't is your pleasure I should be put to Death I 'll go to it with a good will for nothing at all not even Death shall diminish my Love and Obedience The Marquess admiring his Wifes constancy went from her with a stern and troubled Countenance and presently sent to her the same Officer whom he sent before who begun with a great preamble of the necessity of Soldiers obeying their Prince tho the Actions were never so ungrateful to those who did them and hurtful to those who suffer'd by them and much begging Pardon and desiring her not to have hard thoughts of him for he was but a Servant and came unwillingly to disturb her Highness Having made such an harangue as if he was about to put in execution some cruel and wicked unheard of Vilany which he durst not mention he demanded the Child of the intrepid and patient Mother who without changing her Countenance took the Child from the Nurse into her own Arms it was very beautiful and shew'd early hopes of excellent Endowments of mind and was not only belov'd by the Mother but by all that saw it she sign'd it with the sign of the Cross bless'd it and kiss'd it as she had her Daughter before then looking a little while upon it without discovering any sign of Grief she put it into the hands of the Officer Here said she take the Child and do with it as thou art commanded but one thing I desire of thee suffer not the Flesh of this beautiful and innocent Infant to be devour'd by wild Beasts and the Birds of the Air. The Officer return'd to his Master giving him an account of the execution of his Commands which caus'd wonder and amazement in the Marquess that had not he known that she tenderly and passionately lov'd her Children he would have suspected this female Constancy to have proceeded from a rugged and fierce Nature or at least from an apathie and want of Passion and maternal Affection but he knew well she was compassionate and lov'd every one but lov'd her Husband above all things The Officer was commanded to dispose of the Son as he had done before of the Daughter to carry him to Bolonia to be taken care of by the Marquess's Sister which he did One would have thought that these trials of his Wifes Patience Fidelity and Obedience might have been sufficient to have satisfied the most cruel and rigorous Husband But there are some who when they have once begun never know when 't is enouf and when 't is time to leave off of this number was he who resolv'd to proceed and push farther this cruel Experiment fixing his Eyes therefore upon his Wife to try whether he could discover any change in her and doing this daily and continually he could perceive none at all but that she was still more faithful and more obedient if it could be possible than before she had suffer'd such cruel and inhuman usage It seem'd that they two had both but one Will or rather that she had none at all but his was hers The Marquess began insensibly to loose his Reputation and to be accounted a cruel and unjust Person thus to make away his Children born of so vertuous obedient and every way accomplish'd Wife All his Subjects admired and pitied her and did not stick to say that tho she was the Daughter of a Labourer yet she was too good for him and that the worst Wife that ever was in the World did not deserve such usage This discontent and murmuring of the People came to the Marquess's ears but were not prevalent enouf to turn him from prosecuting his Experiment The Children did not appear and no body knew what was become of them which made him who before this act was belov'd and dear to all become infamous and hated Twelve years after the birth of his Daughter he sent Messengers to Rome who were to bring thence the Popes pretended Bull or Licence to be divorc'd from his Wife and spread a report amongst his Subjects that he had obtain'd leave of the Pope to annull the first Marriage and to marry again for his own quiet and the satisfaction of his People for it was not an hard matter for him to make this believ'd by the ignorant Mountainers especially so far distant from Rome this news mightily disgusted them but they were forc'd to submit to the will of their Prince tho not without grumbling and hard thoughts When this report came to Grissels ears tho I believe she was sad yet she was unshaken being resolv'd to undergo with an undaunted courage whatever the Marquess should inflict upon her she patiently expected the event and what he would do to whom she had unchangeably submitted her self and all her concerns The Marquess wrote to his Brother in law at Bolonia to send back his Children and gave out a report that he had made choice of the young Lady to be his Wife A few days after the receipt of this Letter the young beautiful Maid now marriageable richly apparell'd and her Brother a Youth seven years old attended upon with a great troop of Nobility and Gentry with much pomp and solemnity set forwards from Bolonia in order to make their public entry into Saluzzo upon a day appointed The Marquess according as he had done before to sound his Wife and try whether her patience would hold out against so many cruel and repeated assaults and to heap upon her shame and grief sent for her and in the presence of a great number of by-standers he spoke thus for a good while Grissel I delighted in having you for my Wife but 't was before I was thorowly acquainted with your temper but now I can endure you no longer I perceive that all great fortune is a great slavery and that it is not lawful for me to do that which every poor man may My Subjects compel me to divorce you and the Pope has granted me his Dispensation to marry again my Bride is upon the Road and will be here to morrow carry your self magnanimously then and deliver up your place take back your Portion and return to your
were setting down at the Table the Marquess turning towards her with a loud voice that he might be heard by all as if he had done it on purpose to put an affront upon her Grissel said he What is your Opinion of my Bride is she not handsome has she not a modest ingenious and vertuous Countenance In truth Sir said she I never saw one of a more beautiful and promising aspect you may lead a happy Life with her and if not 't is impossible any body else can please you I wish and hope and am confident she will be a Blessing to you But Sir let me beg of you and in good earnest advise you not to try such rigorous Experiments upon her as you did upon your late Wife for she is young and has been tenderly educated and I believe will not be able to endure so much as I have done such usage will soon either break her Heart or provoke her to break yours The Marquess hearing her speak this admiring the chearfulness and constancy of a Woman whom he had so often and in so cruel a manner offended was mov'd to pity her unworthy Sufferings and was not able to proceed any farther in this cruel way Taking her by the Hand my Grissel said he I have made too much trial of thy Affection and Fidelity I am abundantly convinc'd of the reality and immensity of it neither do I believe that any one under the Canopy of Heaven has experimentally found so much Love Faith Constancy and Obedience in a Wife as I have this said he took her into his Arms embrac'd and kiss'd her with all imaginable Tenderness and Affection Thou art said he my dear and only Wife besides thee I never had nor ever will have any other she that you believe to be my future Wife is thy Daughter and this Youth is thy Son both which thou thought'st to be lost now thou hast them again Let those know who foster'd ill Opinions of me that my Curiosity has caus'd me to make some Experiments but has not made me impious to try my Wife but not cast her off to hide my Children but not murder them She hearing these Words was near dying with Joy and her natural Affection spurring her on she ran to her Children bathing their Faces with Tears which copiously flow'd from her Eyes now seeing again those dear Pledges whose Death she had lamented she tir'd them with Kisses and almost drown'd them with her Tears Upon this the Ladies came in Troops about her felicitating the joyful and happy End of her so many so long and cruel Sufferings they strip'd her of her poor Garments and dress'd her like a Bride with rich Cloaths which the Marquess had order'd to be made for her against that Day She was applauded bless'd congratulated by all the Palace rung with the general Acclamation of the People every ones Heart was fill'd with unspeakable Joy and their Eyes with Tears which it produc'd the Joy and Magnificence of her Wedding-Day was much inferiour to this of her happy Return and her Childrens They liv'd together for many Years after even till their Deaths in perfect Love and Concord the Marquess never trying any more Experiments and the Affections of his Subjects return'd like a rapid Torrent and was greater than before its Ebb. He sent for Janicola of whom till then he had taken no notice least he might hinder his making Experiments he order'd him an Apartment and a bountiful Pension which might enable him to live like the Marquess's Father Not long after he married his Daughter to a Noble Man of Savoy suitable to her Birth and Beauty and the great Portion he gave with her To conclude He dy'd in Peace after having been for many Years the happiest Man upon Earth in his Wife and Children His Son now at Mans Estate and perfectly instructed and accomplished by the care of his Tutors and Parents succeeded him in his mild and just Government and the hearty Love and Affections of his Subjects FINIS